Legislation attempts to ban sale of ‘weed light’ in Indiana
Some Republicans in the Indiana General Assembly are trying to ban the sale of a popular derivative of hemp at concentrated levels that can give users a high.
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On MLK Day, Yellen says US economy is unfair to Black people
The U.S. economy “has never worked fairly for Black Americans — or, really, for any American of color,” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a speech delivered Monday, one of many by national leaders acknowledging unmet needs for racial equality on Martin Luther King Day.
Holcomb: Emergency powers law is a constitutional amendment, requires vote
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb is moving forward with his bid to have the Indiana Supreme Court overturn a law allowing the Legislature to call itself into special session, arguing in a new filing that the contested law is akin to a constitutional amendment that must be voted on by Hoosiers.
Schumer: Senate to vote on filibuster change on voting bill
Days before the anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced the Senate will vote soon on easing filibuster rules in an effort to advance stalled voting legislation that Democrats say is needed to protect America’s democracy.
Holcomb ‘stunned’ by Rokita’s suggestion that pandemic stats are inflated
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb slammed Attorney General Todd Rokita for comments he made in an interview this month suggesting the state is inflating its COVID-19 numbers.
Conservative commotion steering Indiana lawmakers on schools
Commotion in some school districts over topics ranging from COVID-19 mask mandates to teaching about racial injustice has Indiana Republican lawmakers looking at steps they argue will give parents more sway over what happens in classrooms.
Biden signs $768.2B defense spending bill into law
President Joe Biden signed the National Defense Authorization Act into law Monday, authorizing $768.2 billion in military spending, including a 2.7% pay raise for service members, for 2022.
Indiana secretary of state leaves Republican Party position
Indiana’s top state elections official has stepped down from her position as the second-ranking officer in the state Republican Party.
Former House Speaker Bosma registers as a lobbyist
Brian Bosma, the former speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives, is now a registered lobbyist in Indiana, but said he isn’t planning to spend much time hanging out in the halls of the Statehouse.
Conservative lawmaker says leaders drew maps to oust him
Freshman Rep. John Jacob spent his first year in the Indiana House of Representatives pushing what he calls “ultra conservative” issues.
Ex-Indiana lawmaker seeks 2022 challenge to GOP Rep. Spartz
A Democratic former Indiana state legislator is looking to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz in next year’s election.
Former Rep. Messer jumps to Bose Public Affairs Group
Former U.S. Rep. Luke Messer has left law firm Faegre Drinker to join Indianapolis-based Bose Public Affairs Group LLC, where he will counsel corporate clients in Indiana and in Washington, D.C., on governmental matters.
Senate Democrats hosting own redistricting hearings
Senate Democrats are making one last effort to have an influence on Indiana’s Republican-controlled redistricting process by hosting their own additional public hearings around the state this week and next.
Indiana redistricting plan secures suburban district for GOP
A Republican redistricting plan shores up a suburban Indianapolis district for the GOP while leaving a potentially targeted Democratic district in northwestern Indiana intact.
Indiana lawmakers head to next step in redistricting after hours of initial public testimony
Lawmakers heard more than two hours of testimony Wednesday at the Indiana Statehouse from citizens who spent most of their time asking for a fair redistricting process.
Evansville woman gets probation for absentee ballot charge
An Evansville Democratic Party activist has been sentenced to probation for sending illegally pre-marked mailings to voters ahead of the 2020 primary elections.
Unusually agreeable justices end term with conservative wins
An unusually agreeable Supreme Court term ended with conservative-driven decisions on voting rights and charitable-donor disclosures that offered a glimpse of what the coming years of the right’s dominance could look like for the nation’s highest court.
Joining Trump at border, Indiana GOP congressman eyes path to power
At the invitation of Donald Trump, Indiana Rep. Jim Banks recently led a small group of House Republicans out to the former president’s New Jersey golf club, where they dined on beef tenderloin, posed for photos and briefed him on strategy for the 2022 midterm elections. Whatever that future may hold, Banks, 41, is working aggressively to play a prominent role in it.
Indiana AG’s “Parents Bill of Rights” document sparks criticism
A document penned this week by the Indiana Attorney General called “Parents Bill of Rights” has caused a stir among parents and political parties alike, partially taking aim at topics of critical race theory and social emotional learning in schools.
Q&A with Mike Schmuhl, new chairman of Indiana Democratic Party
Mike Schmuhl became the Indiana Democratic Party chairman in March and is faced with the task of rebuilding a party that hasn’t won a statewide elective office in nearly a decade. A South Bend native, Schmuhl managed childhood friend Pete Buttigieg’s 2020 presidential campaign, as well as his mayoral campaign in 2011. IBJ recently had a chance to talk to Schmuhl about his rebuilding efforts—and the prospect of Buttigieg coming back to Indiana to run for office.